Bush still unpopular in new poll

By, POLITICO

Updated 2:37 pm, Monday, May 2, 2011

As he promotes his new memoir, former President George W. Bush is still viewed unfavorably by most Americans, but his favorability rating has improved slightly since he left office — rivaling that of his successor, Barack Obama, according to a new poll.

His popularity has risen a bit since he left office in January 2009, when 59 percent viewed him unfavorably and 40 percent favorably. As the economy soured and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dragged on, Bush hit a record low in the spring of 2008, when nearly two-thirds of Americans said they saw him in a unfavorable light.

His numbers today are far below his 87 percent favorable rating after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Bush has been making the national media rounds to promote his memoir, "Decision Points." He has kept a low public profile since handing over the White House to Obama, whose approval ratings have steadily declined as president. Forty-seven percent of Americans disapprove of the job he's doing, while 45 percent approve, according to Gallup.

The latest survey, released Tuesday, found that 87 percent of Republicans, 41 percent of independents and 14 percent of Democrats had a favorable view of Bush. Meanwhile, 11 percent of Republicans, 55 percent of independents and 85 percent of Democrats had an unfavorable view.

The national survey was conducted by telephone Nov. 4-7, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.